Resistance Exercise Training at Different Intensities in Healthy and Frail Older People: A Feasibility Study

Resistance Exercise Training at Different Intensities in Healthy and Frail Older People: A Feasibility Study

After the age of 40-45 years muscle mass and function progressively decline, reducing older peoples' abilities to perform tasks of daily living and also increase the risk of falls. It is known that, across the life course, resistance exercise can be of benefit in increasing muscle mass and function, yet how hard the exercise should be performed has received little attention. Current recommendations are for older people to perform exercise at 70% of the maximum they can lift, quite a high intensity that often puts older people off participating. Recent evidence in younger people has suggested that such intensities are not required.

The investigators aim to determine the feasibility of a study to investigate recruitment and adherence of older people to a study of exercise training at different intensities.

The cohort will comprise two sets of participants: frail older adults and non-frail older adults.

Each participant will receive 8 weeks of twice weekly supervised resistance training. Both the frail and non-frail participants will be randomised into either receiving high load resistance training or low load resistance training. High load resistance training will be delivered at 70% of the participants maximal capacity and low load resistance training will be delivered at 30% of maximal capacity. All resistance training will focus on the lower limb and regardless of intensity each exercise will be done to failure (unable to complete another full repetition).

Inclusion Criteria:

Non-frail - Over 65 years of age Frail - Over 65 years of age, Three or more of the following criteria: >10lbs of weight loss unintentionally in previous year; grip strength in lowest 20% (by sex and BMI); self-reported exhaustion; walking time for 15 feet in slowest 20% (by sex and height); physical activity in the lowest 20%.

Exclusion Criteria:

Non-frail - Current participation in an exercise programme. Clinical team do not think resistance exercise would be safe or unable to consent. Any other reason that precludes participation in exercise, decision made by research team in consultation with a consultant in Geriatric Medicine where required.

Frail - Current participation in an exercise programme. Clinical team do not think resistance exercise would be safe or unable to consent. Any other reason that precludes participation in exercise, decision made by research team in consultation with a consultant in Geriatric Medicine where required.